Day of the Disappeared

On August 30, Amnesty International will observe the International Day of the Disappeared. We call on governments around the world to disclose the status of individuals or groups who have been "disappeared" or taken for political, social or other reasons violating human rights. Those found to be involved in their disappearance must be brought to justice.

Take action on behalf of the Day of the Disappeared cases below or learn about other disappeared cases.
Chad
Dr. Ibni O.M. Saleh
Mathematics professor, former government minister, and leader of the Party for Liberation and Development (PLD), Chad's major democratic opposition party

Dr. Ibni O.M. Saleh was abducted from home on February 3, 2008 by Chadian security forces and is feared dead. The government has not said where he was taken. He may have been gravely abused during detention. The Chadian authorities must disclose his location and medical condition to his family and lawyer. The investigation into his disappearance should be allowed to proceed without further delay.

Take Action: Investigate the disappearance of distinguished professor Dr. Ibni Saleh


China
Gao Zhisheng
Human rights lawyer

Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng has taken on cases of human rights defenders, Falun Gong practitioners and persons facing the death penalty. In December 2006, he was given a suspended sentence of three years in prison for "inciting subversion." Gao was placed under house arrest until February 2009 when he was detained again, apparently because of his outspoken critiques of the human rights situation in China. He briefly resurfaced in April 2010, but has disappeared again since then. Chinese authorities maintain they do not know his whereabouts. Gao reportedly has been harassed, beaten and tortured while under surveillance or in detention.

Take Action: Investigate the disappearance of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng


Nepal
Sanjiv Kumar Karna
Student

Sanjiv Kumar Karna was picnicking with friends on Oct. 8, 2003 when he and ten others were arrested by security force personnel. They were reportedly brutally beaten. Six were subsequently released but Sanjiv and four others have not been heard of since. Police investigations into the disappearance of these five students have not been made public, nor has anyone been held accountable. Impunity continues in Nepal for the thousands of human rights abuses that were committed during Nepal's civil war (1996-2006), and to date, not a single perpetrator has been brought to justice before a civilian court.

Take Action: Investigate the disappearance of student Sanjiv Kumar Karna


North Korea
Yodok political prison camp

Yodok is one of six known political prison camps in North Korea. Men, women and children in the camp face forced hard labor, inadequate food, beatings, a lack of medical care and unhygienic living conditions. At least 50,000 are held there, without charge or trial or access to relatives. Those detained include those perceived to have performed poorly on the job, people who criticize the regime or the ruling family, and anyone suspected of engaging in "anti-government" activities, including listening to unauthorized TV or radio broadcasts. Family members of those suspected of crimes are also sent to Yodok. Infants born in Yodok automatically become inmates; if they are born in the "Total Control Zone," they will be there for life.

Take Action: Urge North Korean officials to acknowledge the existence of Yodok prison camp

Sri Lanka
Prageeth Eknaligoda
Journalist and cartoonist

Prageeth Eknaligoda was disappeared on January 24, 2010, shortly after leaving work. A few days before, he had published an article supporting the opposition presidential candidate. Local residents told the Sri Lankan press that they had seen a white van without number plates close to his house around the time of his disappearance. In the days leading up to his disappearance he had told a close friend that he believed he was being followed. Since 2006, at least 15 media workers have been killed in Sri Lanka, with no one held accountable for these murders.

Take Action: Investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda

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